Gas and multiple liquid separator apparatus



March 5, 1957 w. LOVELADY ETAL 2,783,854

GAS AND MULTIPLE LIQUID SEPARATOR AFPARATUS Filed May 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ISAAC W. LOVELADY SANFORD P. KROEKER IN VEN TOR.

FIG. 3. 24 I fioi 'w ATTORNEYS March 5, 1957 l. w. LOVELADY ETAL 2,783,854

GAS AND MULTIPLE LIQUID SEPARATOR APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1954 2 sneaks-sheet 2 FIG. 6.

ISAAC W. LOVE LADY SANFORD P. KROEKERQ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent GAS AND MULTIPLE LIQUID SEPARATOR APPARATUS Isaac W. Lovelady and Sanford P. Krocker, Odessa, Tex.,

assignors'to Sivalls Tanks, Inc., Odessa, Tern, a corporation of Delaware Application May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,242 17 Claims. (Cl. 183-2.7)

This invention relates to improvements in separator apparatus and refers more particularly to the separation of a mixture of gas and two or more liquids having limited miscibility with each other. The apparatus of this.

invention is especially adapted for the separation of mixtures of petroleum gas and oil produced from oil and gas wells in admixture with or in an emulsion with water wherein the treatment requires heating for most efficient separation. The apparatus is also adapted for the treatment of similar mixtures which may occur in the course of refining hydrocarbon materials.

Many oil and gas wells produce fluids which are a mixture of petroleum gas and crude oil in the form of an emulsion with water, particularly salt water. The

water may be bound up with the oil to form that which is known as a tight emulsion which is hard to break so as to permit separation between the oil andwater. Also, in many instances, the well fluids include portions which may be termed free water and these portions are rela be heated to effect separation thereof with only a minimum of fuel consumption.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the type described in the foregoing object in which the free water may be separated from the well fluids prior to heatingof the tight emulsion and conducted to an outlet from the tank without substantial heat exchange with the heated emulsion. 1

Still another object is to provide apparatus of the .type

with only a minimum of heat exchange with one another.-

A still further object is to provide separator apparatus especially well adapted for separating well fluids containing free water and tight emulsion, in which the free water may be initially separated from the fluids and the tight emulsion subsequently separated by heating into oil and water, wherein the free water and heated emulsion are insulated from one another during transmission through.

the tank to outlets therefor by a layer of relatively cool lighter liquid.

2,783,854 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 .A still further object is to provide separator apparatus including a substantially horizontally disposed tank and a heater disposed therein for effecting separation of tight emulsion into oil and water, wherein battle means are so arranged within the tank as to cause the emulsion to flow over the heater in an improved manner.

A stillfurther object is to provide apparatus of the character described in the foregoing object, in which free water may be initially separated from the well fluids and the. free water and heated emulsion conducted longitudinally of.-the tank to outlets therefrom, wherein the baflie means further serves to establish a layer of insulating liquid between the freewater and heated emulsion.

.Other objects, advantages and features of this inventionwill'be apparent to one skilled in the art upon a consideration of the written specification, the attached claims and" the annexed drawings, wherein: I

;'Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of one form of the separator apparatus;

, Fig. 2.is .a view similar to Fig. 1 of a preferred form ofthe apparauts;

. Fig-3. is 'a partial view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 of a modification. of the preferred form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

:Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the separator of Fig.

1', taken substantially along broken line 4-4; 1

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the separator of Fig.-

2,u'taken substantially along broken line 5-5; and

:Fig. 6 is a view of the outletend of the apparatus of any one of the above figures, with the upper portion of parts of the apparatus broken away.

The separator apparatus of the present invention is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, en-

titled Gas and Multiple Liquid Separator Apparatus, Serial No. 253,914, which was filed October 30, 1951, and now issued as Patent No. 2,706,531. Similarly to the separator of the present invention, in the earlier application means were provided for by-passing the "free water past the heated liquids without substantial heat exchange therewith, but joining said free water with water separated out of the emulsion by heat prior to discharge or' the water from the tank, such that only a single outlet was required. However, in the present invention, the afore-mentioned novel features are incorporated, along with additional novel features, into an apparatus which-comprises only a single tnak or vessel, thereby afl'ording a substantial saving and simplicity of operation.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, each form of separator apparatus comprises a horizontally disposed cylindrical tank or vessel 10 which is closed except for an inlet and outlets to be described and which is supported along the bottom upon skids 11 or other suitable above described in which the initially separated-free water and water separated by heating from. the tight emulsion may be removed from the tank through a common framework. .The. gas and multipleliquid mixture to be treated, which is generally water, petroleum oil and gas and including an oil-water emulsion, is introduced into the tank 10 toward its inlet (leftmost in Figs. 1 to 3) end and discharged in its separate phases or components toward its outlet (rightmost in Figs. 1 to 3) end.

' The tank is divided lengthwise by a vertical baflie or partition 12 intermediate its ends and extending thereacross into first and second zones 13 and 14 on the inlet and outlet sides, respectively, of the baflle. The first zone comprises a free water" knockout section in which the easily separated heavier liquid or water is initially separated from the rest of the mixture or well fluids. In the second zone are arranged, in order, a heating section, a quiescent or settling section, and an outlet" section, the latter being separated from the quiescentsection by a vertical wall 15, the function of which will be apparent hereinafter.

The mixture to be treated is introduced into a centrifugal separator shell 16 in the free water knockout zone water flow below the liquid interface level 20. .This water thus enters the pipe 37 and overflows into the water outlet chamber 38defined by the dividing wall 39, from which it is discharged from the tank through outlet 40. p

In the preferred form of separator of Fig.2, the aforementioned passage means comprises one or'more pipes 41 which extend downwardly from the plate to a level below the layer 34. As shown, both pipes are disposed toward the downstream end of settling section of zone 14. As well, this form of separator is provided with an overflow pipe 37 communicating with the joined water flow and additional apparatus providing a common outlet therefor.

In the section of the zone 14 downstream of the principal settling section, and preferably upstream of the gas outlet 25, there is provided a filter 42 extending across the width of the tank and extending downwardly from the top thereof to at least the liquid interface level. This filter is filled with wood excelsior or other suitable filtering media. Its upper portion above the liquid level acts as a mist extractor for the gas and prevents the carryover of liquid particles from the tank. The termination of the filter short of the bottom of the tank allows at least a substantial portion of the water to be discharged without passing therethrough, and thus avoids plugging of the filter due to the deposition of carbonaceous ma terial and salt.

Referring briefly to certain details of the heater 21, which may be of conventional construction, it can be seen that it is side-mounted and inserted into the tank through a flanged conduit 43. The tubes 28 and 29, which extend through the conduit 43, extend across substantially the entire width of the tank and are at a level vertically within the tank such that at least the upper tubes are covered with the lighter liquid so that heat is applied directly thereto.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end of the overflow pipe 37 extends above the controlled level of water accumulated in outlet chamber 38. The elevation of this upper end of the pipe may be adjusted as desired to provide a means of maintaining a predetermined liquid interface level 20. The liquid level within the compartment 38 is maintained at the desired level by a valve 45 in the outlet 40, which valve may be of a type mechanically operated by a float (not shown) or by conventional level head control.

An oil outlet chamber 46 (Fig. 6) is provided on the opposite side of dividing wall 39 to receive and accumulate the separated oil flowing from the settling section of the zone 14 and over the weir 47 defined by the lowered upper edge of the wall 15. This weir therefore maintains the predetermined liquid level 18 in the tank. Outlet is provided from the chamber 46 through conduit 48 and the level of accumulated oil in this chamber is maintained at a suitable level below weir 47 by a valve 49 similar to the valve 45 and disposed in the outlet 48.

The inlet conduit 17 enters he tank at its outlet end and extends substantially the entire length thereof to the point at which it connects tangentially with the shell 16 to introduce the mixture to be separated into the tank. As shown, this inner length of conduit is disposed in the upper portion of the tank and absorbs heat from the heated fluids along the largest portion of its length. Also, the inlet conduit 17 is extended through a counterfiow heat exchanger 50 below the tank prior to entry into the tank, whereby the incoming fluids absorb heat from the heated oil discharged through the outlet 48.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the inlet conduit 17 connects with the heat exchanger 50 at its left end adjacent the inlet end of the tank, whereby the well fluid is conducted through the pipes 51 of the exchanger to a point at the exchanger end adjacent the outlet of the tank where it re-enters conduit 17 and continues upwardly to the point of entry into the tank. The heated oil from outlet 48 enters the heat exchanger atits outlet end (Figs-1, 2 and 6) andis conducted therethrough around the pipes 51in heat exchange with the incoming fluids to a point adis discharged through conduit 52 (Fig. 6).j

jacent the inlet. end of the heat'exchan'gen from whichglt' It will be understood that the apparatus of the present invention has been shown diagrejimmatically 'in many respects and that conventional apparatus, such as access manways and the like, may be provided for access to different portions of the tank. It will also be understood that the various valve and 'level'controls may be replaced by conventional equivalent means and are shown diagrammatically merely for illustrative purposes.

, From the foregoing it willibe seen that this" invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends andfobjects j hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages; which are obvious and' which are inherent to. the ap-' paratus.

It will be understood that certainfeatures and sub-- combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference. to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope ofthe claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the.

invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as.

illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. A gasand multiple liquid separator which com-- prises, in combination, a horizontal tank, a baffle extending across the tank to define first and second zones therein,

an inlet for introducing the. gas and multiple liquid from,

the exterior of the tank into the first zone, means in said first zone for initially separating a lighter liquid and gas from a heavier liquid of the gasand multiple liquid so introduced, liquid outlets toward one end of the second zone,

a gas outlet from the tank, a heater intermediate the battle and liquid outlets and spaced sufficiently from, the latter to provide a quiescent section therebetweeminterruptions in the bafiie permitting passage from the first to the second zone of each of the initially separated gas and heavier and lighter liquids, means for maintaining predetermined liquid and heavier and lighter liquid interface levels in said tank, and conduit means extending substantially longitudinally of the tank between the baifie and liquid outlets thereof for conducting the initially sep-.

arated heavier liquid from its bafiie interruption to its outlet without substantial heat exchange with the heater, said conduit means having its uppermost level below the heater and the predetermined heavier and lighter liquid interface level.

2. A gas and multiple liquid separator of the character defined in claim 1, including means communicating the lowermost portion of the quiescent'section with the conduitmeans toward the end of the the liquid outlets.

3. A gas and multiple liquid separator of the character defined in claim 1, including means providing a layer of lighter liquid between the initially separated heavier liquid conducted through the conduit means and the heated quiescent section nearest heavier liquid above the uppermost level of the conduit The invention having been described, what is claimed A g'a a liqiiidl ai'a or shell in the game, an inlet for introducing the 'gas iiici' haiiipie nquianaia 5 earsh t of the tank into the shell, wherebya'light ei' liquid and gas are initially 'pai'at'dfi'Sin a heavier liquid of a gas and rnultiple lit; miiit'iire iiitrbduced into the shell, a liquid outlet toward one end f the second iiie for each of the heavier and the lighter" liquids, a gas outlet from the tank, inter ruptions in the bafile permitting passage from the first to the sc orid 'z o iie areaeanrrm initially separated gas and heavier and lighter liquids, a heater intermediate the name and liquid outlets and substantially opposite the bathe iiiteri'iiptioi'i for the initially separated lighter liquid, said heater being spaced sufliciently from the outlets to pi'ovide a quiesceht section th re between, means terminating a predetermined liquid level in the tank aii'cl predetermined heavier and lighter liquid interface liiel in the second hone of the tank intermediate the upper and lower e it r'iiiities of the heater, and a plate iii "the second zone intrniediate the bathe and liquid outlets and extending substantially horizontally across the with on a level below the louier extremity of the heater and 55666 the ldwer inost portion of the baffle interruptioii far the initially separat d heavier liquid, whereliy initially separated heather litfuitl ffhi the first zone may be coiid ited beneath the plate to its bane: without substahtial heat exchange With the heater.

9. A gas and multiple liquid separator of the character dfiiied in cla'i'rri 8, i /herein passage means is provided through the plate raw-aid the and of the quiescent section nearest the name antlers, 7

10. A, gas and 'niultiple liquid separator of the charafei' defined in claini-8, said plate extending in a longitii'dirial direction from the battle to a point in that portioii o f aid quiescent zone nearest the liquid outlets.

I 11. A as and inultiple li'c' uid 'separator of the charatei d efi'ne'd in "cram 8, wherein the plate is spaced from said baflie and pro id d with a heater b afiie portion at ithf e nd nearest the hafiie, which heater baffle portion eitt efit lis ufi w i dly to a lifel abbvethe predetermined liquid level, said plate having passage means thereth rough to- Warid "the earl thereof nearest the bathe. I

12. A gas anti 'mnltipl liquid separator 5f thfcharacter defined in claim 11, including means 'prbvidiag a layer "f h Eiliqmd be e th the plate and the heated heavier liqi d'aisbve th'p are, i v

BIA gas and iiiiilt'ipl liquid separator of the charlighterlig'uid Between the initially separated estate; ar-aieciiaratar area-64 14'. A gas and mnifipt li nidsepar'atdr of the character defined in claim 13 3 said heater, bafl le portion being disposdlity'veifi the bathe aim? the l'ieatef, aritfthe passage nians throughthe Horizontal plate being dispcsedhe; nath the heater.

s. Agasj'afid mingle liquid separator or the charactfdfinedin elairn 13, said heater bathe portion bein disposed in the quiescent" section of the second Zo'ne more nearly adjac'e'httlie h ate than the liquid outlets.

16. A gaa1itl iiii'iltiple liquid separator which comprises, in combination, a horizontal tank, a substantially vertical Ba iitiidiri'g' across the faith to define the first and second ne s therein, an inlet for introducin the gas and iinilt'iple' liquid from the eite'rior of the tank into the first zone, means in said first zone for initially separating a lighter liquid and gas from a heavier liquid of the g'as'aiid' rnultipl'e liquid so introduced, liquid outlets toward one end of said second zone, a gas ontltrronr the tank, interruptions in the bafiie permitting passage frorii the first to the second zones of each of the initially separated gas and heavier and lighter liquids, Heater intermediate the bathe and liquid outlets and dispo ed substantially opposite the interruption for the initially separated lighter liquid, said heater being spaced sufiicientlyfrorn the liquid outlets to provide a quiescent 's'ectiijn the"betveen, means for maintaining a predterrriine'd' liquiu level in "the ram; and a predetermined heavier and lighter liquid interface level intermediate the upp'erl and lhWi-j e tremities of the heater, and a heater bafii between the inte ruption for: the initially separated lighter liq'tii'd and the heater, said heater bahie extending subs'tahtially' Vertiehllj across the tank and having its upper edge above the liquid level and its lower edge below the lower extremity of the heater.

1 17. A gas and multiple liquid separator of the charaejter defined in 16, said heater baffle being ,provided with a substantially horizontal plate portion below the lower extremity of the heater, said plate portion extending toward the Iiquid outlets to a point beneath the heater, whereby the initially separated lighter liquid is causedt'o flow npwarary along the heater.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 12; said layer providiiig means cam- 

